Housing Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib has said the government is working to enable recipients of land allocated by the previous administration to settle on their plots as soon as possible.
Asked during the “Ahaa” forum, broadcast by the President’s Office and state media PSM, when recipients of plots in Giraavaru Falhu would receive their land, Minister Muththalib said the previous administration had allocated more land in Hulhumale' Phase 3, Gulhi Falhu and Giraavaru Falhu than was available at the time.
He said the current government had sought to resolve the issue despite economic challenges. Reclamation work in Hulhumale' Phase 3 and Gulhi Falhu has since been completed, and the land handed over to recipients, he said.
More than 100 hectares of Giraavaru Falhu have already been reclaimed, but work was delayed by fluctuations in oil prices amid unrest in the Middle East. Reclamation has now resumed, Minister Muththalib said.
He said surveying is expected to begin once reclamation is completed, with the allocation and handover of plots to follow.
“More than 100 hectares have been reclaimed, but the work was delayed due to the situation in the Middle East. Work stopped following changes in oil prices. However, you will now see in the news that work has resumed,” he said.
“We hope to complete the reclamation of the remaining area soon, begin the survey and hand over the land by the time dredging is completed,” he added.
According to figures released by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) last week, the project involves reclaiming a total of 167.15 hectares. Reclamation of 97.15 hectares began in January, while 115 hectares had been reclaimed by last week, representing 68 percent completion.
MACL is using the Queen of the Netherlands and Oranje dredgers to accelerate the reclamation work.
Minister Muththalib also said arrangements were being made through the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to allow recipients of land in Hulhumale' Phase 3 and Gulhi Falhu to build boundary walls and carry out other preparatory work.
The minister said the cost of installing water, sewerage and electricity infrastructure in reclaimed areas was significantly higher than the cost of reclamation itself.
He said it would be difficult to finance all the necessary infrastructure through the state budget at once. Infrastructure and road development in Gulhi Falhu alone is expected to cost more than USD 400 million, he added.
The government has decided to work with the Public Works Services and the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) to begin water and sewerage network development as soon as possible, he said.
Minister Muththalib said the government was exploring different ways to hand over the allocated land and enable recipients to settle there as soon as possible.
